Overhead spring sash balance



July 8, 1941. R. R. MOSS ErAL `OVERHEAD SPRING SASH BALANCE Fuga .June '7,'1939 if' ,27V-75 i /n//f/Vraew- @@ffffx Patented July 8, 1941 y Royal B.. Moss and. George B. Knapp, Los'Angeles', Calif.,.assgnors to Nelle klrzancesKerstingfs Los Angeles, Calif.

ApplicationvJune 7, issafsriaLN.27x76@ l, (ci. -11) 4 Claims.

Our inventionrelates generallyto vsash ba-lances of the type employing a sheet metal housing'containinga drum or drums, with-a coil springdisposed withinsaid drum anda metal ta-peorcable adapted to Wind onto-and from the'periphery i of the drum, with onev end of -said ltape or-cable connected to the Window sashi Such forms of spring 'sashbalances form the subject matter of U. S. LettersPatents No. 1,733,- 666, issued October 29,1929,- and No.` 1,762,821 issued June 10, 1930, also the spring sash balance forming the subject matter of copending patent application led November 8, 1937, Serial No. 173,421.

It is the general practice to'install the-spring sash balances of the type to which our invention relates, in openings formed in the jambs of Window frames and, it is theprincipalA object of our invention to` construct the sash balances and particularly the housings thereof so that the balances may be easily andconvenientlyvinstalled in the header or railbetweenrthe upper portions of4 the jambsofthe window. frame, thusproviding overhead installations. which in many in.- stances. are .entirely feasible and desirable.

A further object of our. invention is, to construct the sash balance housing and particularly the face plate thereofv so that. it. maybe.l convenientlyapplied to the under side of the header of the Window frame with thebodyof the'housing projectingv upwardly through an opening` in the header and with oneend of the face plate or an extension that projects from the end of the housing, resting on the jamb at the lower end of the` notch or opening thatisf formed therein for the reception of the end of the header.

A further object of our invention is,I to provide a base or anchor plate for that portion of the face plate or the extension from the housing that enters and rests upon the jamb below the end of the header.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, our invention consists incertain novel features of construction Land arrangement of` parts that Will be hereinafter, Vmore fully describedv and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevationalview of: a spring sash balance installed` in the window frame as an overhead balance and showing 4portions of th header and jarnb in section.

, Fig. 2 is a horizontal section takenv approximately on the line 2 2' of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is ya cross sect-iontakenon 'the linef33 Fig. LLeis a-perspectiveview--of theffplatexthat is applied in the-bottom.of the header receiving notch-oi r the Ajamb-and `which. provides a support fon the-projecting-fend 'of-the faceplate or-.other member that: projectsY fromthe sash balance housing.

Figc.- 5 His a detail elevational- Viewv showing a modified form` oftheY meansutilizedfor; supportingthesashy balance -intheframe. Fig.v -6-is' a. vertical Asection.v takenk through-i the lowerou-tencornerof Laysash balance housingsand showingamodied form.ofthe-supportingmeans therefor.

Fig.- 8--isl a verticahsection similar Ato- Fig.. 6

and-shoWing-a-furthenmodiedform of the sup: port-nforthehousing.L Y l Figi. 91-is-a detail section taken on thelinevySe-S ofLliig-.vi f Y f Fig-l-is-a vertical-sectiontakenon the-:line

Ill-I0 of Fig. 8. Vv Referringglcy numerals. to, thee accompanying drawing; and, particularly, tothe,- constructionlil.- vlustratedairt Figs .1.to4,. inclusive.. Ill,` designates thejambmfza Window, frame and Whicninac: cor-.dancezwith established. practice. is. notchedior mortised, OIL itsA inner, face as` designated; by Ll., for,v Athe i reception of. theend. oil the li-ntel. or header;V l2. of thewindow frame.

Fonthe.. accommodation of the,- spring-` sash .balancer housing; or.. housings', H, an `openingd I3 is formeddn the lintel, saidV opening, extending longitudinally from the end'of the lnllel; that enters.. the mortiseor notch; Il and,l the.- length ofzsaid gopening. being slightly greater, than the width; of .the sash; balancehousine.. Y .,Tihe-sash, loalan@es.contemplated. by our invern '.tismraregenerally. of the type. forming., the Sub;- -iect .matter Qfv the.. above mentioned, Batenls; NQ-V mt an@ lit-.1,762,821 and 1Q-pendants,.- plication forpatent, Serial No. 173,421, each balance` including a rotatably mountedj spring; heldfd'rumvvon which is adapted to wind a thin, ilalt, metal tape or cableI C that extends: down,.- wardly from the housing` and; itslower endilce, ing, suitably connected tothe upright side rail orlower corner ofthe window sash.

beyond the end of the housing a distance equal to the depth of the notch or mortise II and, due to this projecting portion of the face plate the opening I3 that receives the housing H must be Iormed slightly longer than the housing, in order that the latter when applied to the lintel may be moved upwardly through opening I3 and thence longitudinally of the lintel so as to bring the outer end of the face plate I4 flush with the outer end of said lintel and with the outer end portions of both lintel and face plate positioned in the` mortise or notch Il.

In order to provide a nrm and substantial base for the support of the end of the face plate that projects into the mortise, an anchor plate l5, preferably a metal strap, is positioned on the bottom or' the mortise II and is secured thereto in any suitable manner, preferably by means of a nail or screw I6 that passes through an aperture Il in the center of the base plate.

,Portions or" the base plate between the Center and ,ends thereof are depressed to form pockets I8A that receive the projecting portions of the faceplate Iii and the depth oi' which pockets is equal to they thickness of the face plates (see Fig. 4)

. When the housing including the face plate is applied to the lintel that portion of the face plate that extends inwardly from the notch or opening i3 issecured to the lintel, preferably Aby means of a screw I9 that passes through the projecting portion of the face plate and upwardly into the lintel. Thus when the spring sash balance is properly applied for use, it is irmly secured to the lintel and projects upwardly through an opening immediately adjacent the jamb with which the lintel is associated and the flexible metal tape or cable C extends downwardly through an opening in the face plate immediately adjacent the jamb and, the lower end otsaid cable is connected in the conventional manner to a window sash.

r:In Fig. 5 we have illustrated a modied arrangement for supporting the sash balance housingon the shoulder formed at the lower end of the mortise in the jamb and, in this construction a substantially L-shaped bracket 20 has its Vertical leg 'rigidly fixed, preferably by spot Welding, to the lower portion of the end of the sash balance housing H and, the horizontal leg of this bracket projects outwardly in the same plane with the face plate I4 and rests on the base plate I5 that is positioned on the bottom of the mortise II in the jamb.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7, the upper portion of a flat spring formed `from a narrow piece of resilient metal 2| is rigidly secured by spot welding or rivets to the inner face of the end wall of the sash balance housing -that is positioned adjacent the jamb I I and, the lowerV portion of this resilient strip is bent into a horizontal plane to form a foot 22 that extends outwardly through a slot 23 in the lower portion of the end wall of the housing and said foot is adapted to rest on the base plate I at the lower end of the mortise in the jamb.

' Cut and stamped from the lower portion of the resilient member 2I just above the foot 22 is a depending lip 24 which passes through the opening 25 that accommodates the metal tape or ,cableof .the sash balance and, this lip is adapted to be engaged and moved inwardly away from the :end wall of the housing so as to ex member 2I -andj draw the foot 22 into said housing when the latter is installed in the lintel or when the lintel and housing are removed from the jamb.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and l0, a narrow strap 26 of metal is arranged for sliding movement on top of the face plate below the end wall that is positioned adjacent the jamb and, said strip is retained for such sliding movement by an overlying plate 2l of sheet metal, the edges of which are suitably secured to the upper surface of the face plate. When the strip 26 is drawn inwardly, the sash "balance housing may be readily inserted through the opening in the lintel and when said strip is moved outwardly as illustrated in Fig. 8, its outer portion rests on the anchor plate I5 at the bottom of the mortise in the jamb.

The sliding'strip, the overlying plate 21, and the face plate of the sash balance housing, are provided with coinciding apertures 28 for the accommodation of the steel tape or cable that extends from the winding drum of the sash balance to the sash and, in order that the strip 2,6 may be moved lengthwise from one position to another., an aperture 2S is formed in the inner portionofsaid striprand which aperture is accessible through a slot 30'that is formed in the underlying portionmof the face plate.

This construction enables an implement, such as a nail set or the like, toV be inserted in the aperture 29 for the purpose of moving the strip 26 inwardly or outwardly. v

'vIn the constructionof some window frames, the endsr of thelintels are extended so as to overlie the upper ends of the jambs and, where such construction is employed the ends of the face plates of the sash balance housing opposite the ends thataresecured tothe lintel rest upon the upper ends of the jambs or upon anchor plates that are applied to said upper ends.

Thus it will, be seen that we have provided simple, practical andv eflicient means, whereby a spring sash balance housing may be easily and conveniently applied to the lintel of a window frame so as to function as a so--called overhead balance and which construction eliminates the necessity for installing the sash balances on the window jamb. VA4 particular advantage of our improved construction is, that ythe cable or iiexible metal tape that istcarried by the drum of the sash balance maintains a practically straight line between the periphery of thedrum and the lower corner or side `of the sash to which said cable or tape is connected and, such arrangement enables the cable or tape to pass onto and from the drum without frictional contact with any portion of the sash balance housing.

Further, our improved'construction provides for a very firm and substantial anchorage for the sash `balance housing-in its overhead position, for one end of the face plate of the housing is firmly secured to the lintel and the other end of the face plate rests directly. upon an anchor plate that is supported on the shoulder at the bottom of the mortise in the jamb that receives the end of the lintel.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of our improved 'overhead spring sash balance,

Vmay be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of our invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended, claims.

We claim as our invention: y

l. The combination with a window frame jamb and lintel, said jamb being mortised for the accommodation of the end of said lintel, said lintel being provided with an opening adjacent said jamb, and an anchor plate positioned on the shoulder at the lower end of the mortise in the jamb, which anchor plate is provided in its upper surface with a recess, of a spring sash balance including a housing and face plate, which housing projects upwardly through the opening in the lintel with the face plate positioned against the under face of said lintel, means for securing the inner end of said face plate to the lintel and the other end of said face plate projecting beyond the housing and resting on said anchor plate in said recess.

2. The combination with a window frame jamb and lintel, which lintel is provided adjacent the jamb with an opening, there being a mortise formed in the jamb for the reception of the end of said lintel and an anchor plate resting on the shoulder at the bottom of said mortise, said anchor plate being provided in its upper surface with a recess, of a spring sash balance including a housing positioned in the opening in said lintel and extending upwardly therefrom, a face plate secured to the housing of the sash balance, which face plate is positioned against the under face of the lintel and a mem-ber secured to and projecting from the end of the sash balance housing adjacent said jamb and seated in the recess in i said anchor plate.

3. 'I'he combination with a window frame jamb and lintel, which lintel is provided adjacent the jamb with an opening, there being a mortise formed in the jamb for the reception of the end of said lintel and an anchor plate resting on the l shoulder at the bottom of said mortise, of a spring sash balance including a housing positioned in the opening in said lintel and extending upwardly therefrom, a face plate secured to the housing of the sash balance, which face plate is positioned against the under face of the lintel and a member mounted for movement on the outer lower corner of the sash balance housing and adapted when moved outwardly from said housing to engage and rest upon said anchor plate and provide a support for that portion of the housing adjacent said jamb.

4. The combination with a window frame jamb and lintel, which lintel is provided adjacent the jamb with an opening, there being a mortise formed in the jamb for the reception of the end of said lintel and an anchor plate resting on the shoulder at the bottom of said mortise, said anchor plate being provided in its upper surface with a recess, of a sash balance housing face plate secured to the under side of the lintel below the opening therein, one end of which face plate is secured to the lintel inwardly from said opening, the other end of which face plate rests in the recess in said anchor plate and a spring sash balance housing secured to said face plate and projecting upwardly through the opening in said lintel.

ROYAL R. MOSS. GEORGE B. KNAPP. 

